Chapter Eight: Playing With Fire

Avery's POV 

I stepped into the palace grounds, my heart sinking with every step. I had been dreading this moment for what felt like an eternity, and now that it was finally here, I couldn't help but tremble with fear.

As I made my way through the familiar halls, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of my stomach. I had thought that I had escaped this place, that I had left its horrors behind me. But now, as I stood outside the door to my new room, I realized that I was back where I started.

I pushed open the door and stepped inside, my eyes scanning the room with a sense of trepidation. It was smaller than my old room, with plain white walls and a single window that looked out onto the palace gardens. But it was the bed that caught my attention. My stomach lurched, and I felt like gagging in disgust.

I felt a wave of fear wash over me as I approached the bed, my heart racing with every step. I had thought that I was safe, that I had escaped the palace and its cruelties. But now, as I stood in this small, plain room, I realized that I was back in the lion's den.

Just then, I heard a knock at the door. I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. Who could it be? I slowly made my way to the door, my hand trembling as I reached out to open it.

A servant stood in the hallway, a tray of food in her hands. “Dinner, miss,” she said, her voice neutral.

I stared at the food, my mind racing with fear. Was it poisoned? Was this some kind of trap? I couldn't bring myself to touch it, to even look at it.

“Thank you,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I stepped back from the door, my eyes fixed on the food as the servant set it down on a nearby table.

As the servant left, I sat back down on the bed, my eyes fixed on the food. I was terrified to even touch it, to even think about eating it. I was trapped in this palace, at the mercy of Alpha Red and his minions. And I had no idea what they had planned for me.

I was starting to drift off to sleep, my eyelids growing heavy as the exhaustion of the day caught up with me. But just as I was about to succumb to the darkness, I was jolted awake by the creaking sound of the door.

My eyes snapped open, and I sat up with a start, my heart racing as I took in the figure standing in the doorway. Alpha Red. My worst nightmare.

As I gazed at him in horror, I couldn't help but notice the details of his appearance. His dark hair was perfectly messy, his green eyes gleaming in the dim light of the room. He was impossibly tall, at least seven feet, and his broad shoulders seemed to fill the entire doorway.

But it was his face that really caught my attention. He was dangerously handsome, with sharp cheekbones and a chiseled jawline. The moonlight streaming through the window highlighted his features, making him look even more deadly handsome.

As he stared at me with an unreadable expression, I felt a shiver run down my spine. He looked like a creature of the night, a monster that had emerged from the shadows to haunt me. I was frozen in fear, unable to move or speak as he loomed over me, his eyes boring into my very soul.

I opened my mouth to ask him why he was there, but no words came out. I was speechless, frozen in fear as he began to move towards me. He took slow, deliberate steps, like a predator stalking its prey. I stepped back, calculatingly, trying to put some distance between us.

But Alpha Red just kept coming, his eyes fixed on me with an unnerving intensity. “So, how was your stay at the infirmary?” he asked, his voice low and smooth. “I'm sure you must have enjoyed yourself. Forgot all about why you're here.”

I snapped back, trying to hide the fear that was trembling inside me. “I haven't forgotten anything,” I spat, trying to keep my voice steady. “And I have no intention of bending to your will. Whatever it is you want from me, I won't give it to you.”

His expression didn't change, but I could sense a flicker of amusement in his eyes. He seemed to be enjoying this, enjoying the fact that I was scared and attempting to defy him. I knew I had to be careful, that I couldn't let him get the better of me. But it was difficult to keep my courage up when he was looming over me, his presence seeming to fill the entire room.

“How are your injuries?” His expression turned solicitous, and he asked me about my injury, inquiring as to how I was feeling. But I wasn't buying it. I scoffed, my eyes narrowing as I asked him if he was asking because he actually felt bad, or if he just wanted to mock me.

“No sane person would inflict pain on others and act like it's nothing,” I spat, my voice venomous. I was trying to provoke him, to see if I could get a rise out of him.

His jaw ticked, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flash of anger in his eyes. But then, his expression smoothed out, and he seemed to be in full control again. I was on high alert, waiting for him to make his next move.

Instead, he moved his gaze to the food that had been left for me, his eyes narrowing as he asked me why it was still untouched. I snorted in response, my eyes rolling in disdain.

“I wish to die in your Pack,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “But not by food poisoning. That's just too common. Almost…an insult.” I smiled sweetly at him, daring him to respond.

I watched as his body tensed, his muscles coiling beneath his skin like a snake preparing to strike. His eyes darkened, the green deepening to a rich, foreboding hue that seemed to bore into my very soul.

For a moment, he seemed to be struggling with himself, his face twisted in a mixture of anger and restraint. Then, in a voice that was low and even as he spoke. “Feel free to inform the servants about your wants,” he said through gritted teeth.

But I was beyond reason. I was fueled by anger and defiance, and I snarled at him, my words tumbling out in a furious rush. “I'm not a canary you can cage just for fun,” I spat. “I'm not some toy you can play with and then discard when you're bored.”

Alpha Red's jaw clenched, his teeth grinding together in a gesture of suppressed rage. Then, in a voice that was low and menacing, he growled at me, his words dripping with warning. “Don't push me to the edge again,” he snarled, his eyes blazing with fury. “I'm not a patient man, and I won't be tested.”

As he spoke, he took another step towards me, his movements slow and deliberate. I could feel the air thickening around us, the tension building to an almost unbearable level. I knew that I was playing with fire, that I was pushing him to the limits of his control. But I couldn't seem to stop myself. I was driven by a fierce desire to defy him, to resist his authority and assert my independence.